PLYMOUTH — For a guy who deals with a lot of weeds, everything’s been coming up roses for Mike Sisti lately.

The owner of Plymouth Meeting-based lawn care franchise Weed Man of Montgomery County was recently presented with the 2012 Community Service Weedy Award.

The award was established by the company to recognize the franchisee who has proven a willingness to step up to give back to the community and presented to Sisti at a company conference in Tampa.

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“It’s an honor to be part of a successful business and receive this award,” said Sisti, who is president of the non-profit organization Project Evergreen and is active in the GreenCare for Troops program, which provides free lawn and landscape care to thousands of U.S. troops serving overseas.

“It’s an honor to be part of a successful business and receive this award,” Sisti said. “Being a Weed Man franchise owner is more than just having a local business that the community can turn to for their needs. It’s about working with the community to beautify it.”

Jennifer Lemcke, COO of Weed Man and Turf Holdings, LLC noted: “In his second year of operation, Mike not only successfully grew by 79 percent, but he continued to make sure to align himself and lead an organization that is there to protect our industry. Being from New Jersey, he has also taken it upon himself to donate his time and resources to re-greening spaces that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, even further demonstrating his passion for giving back.”

After years of owning an independent lawn care business in New Jersey, Sisti discovered that the grass was a little greener on the other side of the fence.

The franchise fence, that is.

Weed Man of Montgomery County is a subsidiary of a company founded in Canada more than 40 years ago, providing environmentally responsible lawn care service that includes fertilization, weed control and pest management.

“I sold my business in New Jersey, Alpine Lawn and Tree Care, in 2005, and when I wanted to get back into small business ownership, I found that the Weed Man franchise business has a very solid reputation and business model, in addition to the agronomic plan they put together,” Sisti said. “So that’s how I made my decision.”

Sisti narrowed down his options from a burgeoning field of franchised landscaping opportunities, while weighing the pros and cons of going it on his own again.

“It really came down to the solid business plan they had in place, along with the support,” Sisti said.

“One of the great things I’ve seen with this company is that they’ve grown it to a multi-million dollar level, so you can see the different stages of the business as it grows.”

Regionally, he was impressed with the company’s knowledge of the widely varied horticultural needs in different parts of the country, Sisti allowed.

“There can be different turf problems in Pennsylvania, versus South Carolina.”

Though his background gave him a decided edge, even someone who doesn’t know a common cocklebur from a hollyhock is capable of launching a Weed Man franchise.

“They will take someone who has absolutely no turf experience who just wants to own his own business,” Sisti said. “There’s support to help people like that all along the way.”

But even for a guy with a seasoned green thumb, there’s always more to learn,” said Sisti, who last fall launched a second enterprise, Parkside Tree and Shrub Care. You’re also getting a new perspective, learning things that in some cases may be more efficient, save money and time, which I may not have thought of in my experience as an independent.”